Trusted Professions

As people around the world pay tribute to healthcare workers, Australians have voted doctors, nurses and paramedics the most trustworthy professions in 2021

Across the community, some professions are perceived as being more trustworthy than others. Our annual Trusted Professions survey reveals that, just as we did last year, in 2021 Australians trust doctors the most. Caregiving professions have consistently ranked among the top five for many years. So this year it’s no surprise that the other professions in the top five were nurses, paramedics, firefighters and scientists, in that order. Medical professionals are trusted across the board. Throughout the pandemic, medical professionals took their role of health guardians very seriously, whether it was on the frontline in hospitals, or by making home visits and phone consultations. Their diligence and guidance was transparent and thorough. And while firefighters are the only profession in the top five not employed in the medical sector, their dedication to providing life- and property-protecting care to the community demonstrates their professional sacrifices that earn our trust. The poll asked participants to nominate the profession they trust the most. Although the list changes from year to year, professions such as paramedics, nurses, doctors and firefighters are regular repeats. The next most trusted professionals are police officers, teachers, pharmacists, pilots and vets. This is followed by social workers, judges, dentists, religious ministers and priests, psychologists/counsellors and accountants. At the bottom of the pack are social media producers, security guards, delivery drivers, journalists and politicians. In the context of the pandemic, and the importance of public announcements, the results of the poll are telling – particularly in light of doctors topping the list, against politicians coming in last. Looking back at the daily updates

“Caregiving professions have consistently ranked among the top five for many years”

our political leaders gave – both state and federal – it was their respective chief medical officers the prime minister and state premiers referred to for guidance on closing borders, wearing masks, and vaccination rollouts. In what has been a very difficult time for politicians, by acquiescing to the medical and scientific experts, they clearly recognised their role was to listen to those in the know. That’s the value of trust.